Consistent deformations method applied to a topological coupling of antisymmetric gauge fields in D=3

In this work we use the method of consistent deformations of the master equation by Barnich and Henneaux in order to prove that an abelian topological coupling between a zero and a two form fields in D=3 has no nonabelian generalization. We conclude that a topologically massive model involving the Kalb-Ramond two-form field does not admit a nonabelian generalization. The introduction of a connection-type one form field keeps the previous result.Comment: 8 pages. To appear in Physics Letters

Prevalence Of α-thalassemia 3.7 Kb Deletion In The Adult Population Of Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil

α-Thalassemia, arising from a defect in α-globin chain synthesis, is often caused by deletions involving one or both of the α-genes on the same allele. With the aim of investigating the prevalence of α-thalassemia 3.7 kb deletion in the adult population of Rio Grande do Norte, 713 unrelated individuals, between 18 and 59 years-of-age, were analyzed. Red blood cell indices were electronically determined, and A 2 and F hemoglobins evaluated by HPLC. PCR was applied to the molecular investigation of α-thalassemia 3.7 kb deletion. Eighty (11.2%) of the 713 individuals investigated presented α-thalassemia, of which 79 (11.1%) were heterozygous (-α 3.7/αα) deletions and 1 (0.1%) homozygous (-α 3.7/-α 3.7). Ethnically, heterozygous deletions were higher (24.8%) in Afro-Brazilians. Comparison of hematological parameters between individuals with normal genotype and those with heterozygous α +-thalassemia showed a statistically significant difference in the number of erythrocytes (p < 0.001), MCV (p < 0.001), MCH (p < 0.001) and Hb A 2 (p = 0.007). This study is one of the first dedicated to investigating α-thalassemia 3.7 kb deletion in the population of the State Rio Grande do Norte state. Results obtained demonstrate the importance of investigating this condition in order to elucidate the causes of microcytosis and hypochromia. © 2012, Sociedade Brasileira de Genética. Printed in Brazil.353594598Adorno, E.V., Couto, F.D., Moura Neto, J.P., Menezes, J.F., Rêgo, M., Reis, M.G., Gonçalves, M.S., Hemoglobinopathies in newborns from Salvador, Bahia, Northeast Brazil (2005) Cad Saúde Pública, 21, pp. 292-298Bezerra, C.M., Meissner, R.V., Diagnóstico molecular da talassemia alfa + (deleção-( 3.7) em indivíduos com microcitose e/ou hipocromia atendidos no Hemocentro Dalton Barbosa Cunha em Natal, Rio Grande do Norte (2010) Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter, 32, pp. 90-91. , (Abstract in English)Borg, J., Georgitsi, M., Aleporou-Marinou, V., Kollia, P., Patrinos, G.P., Genetic recombination as a major cause of mutagenesis in the human globin gene clusters (2009) Clin Biochem, 42, pp. 1839-1850Borges, E., Wenning, M.R.S.C., Kimura, E.M., Gervásio, S.A., Costa, F.F., Sonati, M.F., High prevalence of alpha-thalassemia among individuals with microcytosis and hypochromia without anemia (2001) Braz J Med Biol Res, 34, pp. 759-762Cascudo, L.C., (1984) História do Rio Grande do Norte, p. 524. , 2 edition. Fundação José Augusto, NatalCouto, F.D., Albuquerque, A.B.L., Adorno, E.V., Moura Neto, J.P., Freitas, A.L., Oliveira, J.L.B., Reis, M.G., Gonçalves, M.S., Alpha-thalassemia-2, 3.7 kb deletion and hemoglobin AC heterozygosity in pregnancy: A molecular and hematological analysis (2003) Clin Lab Haematol, 25, pp. 29-34Dacie, J.V., Lewis, S.M., (1995) Practical Haematology., p. 608. , Churchill Livingstone, EdinburghDodé, C., Krishnamoorthy, R., Lamb, J., Rochette, J., Rapid analysis of-α 3.7 thalassaemia and ttt anti3.7 triplication by enzymatic amplification analysis (1992) Br J Haematol, 83, pp. 105-111Harteveld, L.C., Higgs, D.R., H-thalassaemia (2010) Orphanet J Rare Dis, 5, pp. 1-21Higgs, D.R., H-Thalassaemia (1993) Baillière's Clin Haematol, 6, pp. 117-150Higgs, D.R., The pathopysiology and clinical features of H thalassemia (2009) Disorders of Hemoglobin, pp. 266-295. , In: Steinberg MH, Forget BG, Higgs DR and Weatherall DJ (eds) 2 nd edition. Cambridge University Press, New YorkHiggs, D.R., Weatherall, D.J., The alpha thalassaemias (2009) Cell Mol Life Sci, 66, pp. 1154-1162Mouélé, R., Pambou, O., Feingold, J., Galactéros, F., M-thalassemia in Bantu population from Congo-Brazzaville: Its interaction with sickle cell anemia (2000) Hum Hered, 50, pp. 118-125Peres, M.J., Romão, L., Carreiro, H., Picanço, I., Batalha, L., Magalhães, H.A., Martins, M.C., Lavinha, J., Molecular basis of H-thalassemia in Portugal (1995) Hemoglobin, 19, pp. 343-352Rahim, F., Microcytic hypochromic anemia patients with thalassemia: Genotyping approach (2009) J Med, 63, pp. 101-108Sankar, V.H., Arya, V., Tewari, D., Gupta, U.R., Pradhan, M., Genotyping of alpha-thalassemia in microcytic hypochromic anemia patients from North India (2006) Indian J Med Res, 47, pp. 391-395Sonati, M.F., Farah, S.B., Ramalho, A.S., Costa, F.F., High prevalence of alpha-thalassemia in a black population of Brazil (1991) Hemoglobin, 15, pp. 309-311Souza, A.E.S., Takanashi, S.Y.L., Cardoso, G., Guerreiro, J.F., S-thalassemia (3.7 kb deletion) in a population from the Brazilian Amazon region: Santarém, Pará State (2009) Genet Mol Res, 8, pp. 477-481Steinberg, M.H., Nagel, R.L., Hemoglobins of the embryo, fetus and adult (2009) Disorders of Hemoglobin, pp. 119-135. , In: Steinberg MH, Forget BG, Higgs DR and Weatherall DJ (eds) 2 nd edition. Cambridge University Press, New YorkWagner, S.C., Castro, S.M., Gonzalez, T.P., Santin, A.P., Filippon, L., Zaleski, C.F., Azevedo, L.A., Hutz, M., Prevalence of common c-thalassemia determinants in south Brazil: Importance for the diagnosis of microcytic anemia (2010) Genet Mol Biol, 33, pp. 641-645Weatherall, D.J., Clegg, J.B., Inherited haemoglobin disorders: An increasing global health problem (2001) Bull World Health Organ, 79, pp. 704-71

The all loop AdS4/CFT3 Bethe ansatz

We propose a set of Bethe equations yielding the full asymptotic spectrum of the AdS4/CFT3 duality proposed in arXiv:0806.1218 to all orders in the t'Hooft coupling. These equations interpolate between the 2-loop Bethe ansatz of Minahan and Zarembo arXiv:0806.3951 and the string algebraic curve of arXiv:0807.0437. The several SU(2|2) symmetries of the theory seem to highly constrain the form of the Bethe equations up to a dressing factor whose form we also conjecture.Comment: References added. Factor of 2 in the discussion of the (generalized) scaling function fixe

Horizontal Branch Stars: The Interplay between Observations and Theory, and Insights into the Formation of the Galaxy

We review HB stars in a broad astrophysical context, including both variable and non-variable stars. A reassessment of the Oosterhoff dichotomy is presented, which provides unprecedented detail regarding its origin and systematics. We show that the Oosterhoff dichotomy and the distribution of globular clusters (GCs) in the HB morphology-metallicity plane both exclude, with high statistical significance, the possibility that the Galactic halo may have formed from the accretion of dwarf galaxies resembling present-day Milky Way satellites such as Fornax, Sagittarius, and the LMC. A rediscussion of the second-parameter problem is presented. A technique is proposed to estimate the HB types of extragalactic GCs on the basis of integrated far-UV photometry. The relationship between the absolute V magnitude of the HB at the RR Lyrae level and metallicity, as obtained on the basis of trigonometric parallax measurements for the star RR Lyrae, is also revisited, giving a distance modulus to the LMC of (m-M)_0 = 18.44+/-0.11. RR Lyrae period change rates are studied. Finally, the conductive opacities used in evolutionary calculations of low-mass stars are investigated. [ABRIDGED]Comment: 56 pages, 22 figures. Invited review, to appear in Astrophysics and Space Scienc